INVESTIGATION OF NOISE SENSITIVITY AND NOISE DISTURBANCE AMONG MINERS IN A MECHANIZED UNDERGROUND MINING OPERATION

Abstract

In the mining sector, which is classified as highly hazardous, the number of noise sources and, consequently, the noise level in the environment are increasing with the transition to mechanization. While mechanized vehicles have different noise levels, prolonged exposure to this noise can pose a direct risk to miners. Noise annoyance, generally associated with negative noise experiences, is related to the amount of noise exposure. Noise sensitivity is a genetically inherited personality trait unrelated to exposure to noise. This research aims to determine whether the noise annoyance and sensitivity of miners differ from the general population and to examine their relationships with environmental and individual variables. This study is a cross-sectional, conducted on miners, in a mechanized underground mine and male office workers with non-mining workplaces. Volunteers who aged 20-60 years without any otological, neurological problems. The Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale, a demographic information form, and noise annoyance data were analyzed. Although the level of noise annoyance and sensitivity complaints among miners was higher than control group, the difference wasn’t statistically significant (p>0.05). Measures must be taken within the framework of occupational health and safety against noise hazards and risks, including in the mining sector and other fields of work.

Keywords

• Noise sensitivity
• Noise annoyance
• Underground mining
• Occupational Noise Exposure
• Occuppational healty and safety
• Weinstein’s noise sensitivity scale

MEKANİZE BİR YERALTI MADEN İŞLETMESİNDE MADENCİLERDE GÜRÜLTÜYE HASSASİYETİN VE GÜRÜLTÜDEN RAHATSIZ OLMA DURUMLARININ İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Çok tehlikeli sınıfta yer alan madencilik sektöründe, mekanizasyona geçişle birlikte gürültü kaynaklarının sayısı ve dolayısıyla çevredeki gürültü seviyesi artmaktadır. Mekanize araçlardan kaynaklanan gürültüye maruz kalmak madenciler için doğrudan bir risk oluşturabilir. Genellikle olumsuz gürültü deneyimleriyle ilişkilendirilen gürültü rahatsızlığı, gürültüye maruz kalma miktarıyla ilgilidir. Gürültü hassasiyeti ise gürültüye maruz kalmayla ilgisi olmayan, genetik olarak kalıtılan bir kişilik özelliğidir. Bu araştırma, madencilerin gürültü rahatsızlığı ve hassasiyetinin genel popülasyondan farklı olup olmadığını belirlemeyi ve bunların çevresel ve bireysel değişkenlerle ilişkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Mekanize bir yeraltı madeninde çalışan madenciler ve madenc dışı işyerlerinde çalışan erkek ofis çalışanları üzerinde yapılan kesitsel bir çalışmadır. Çalışmaya, otolojik, nörootolojik veya nörolojik sorunları olmayan 20-60 yaş arası gönüllüler katılmıştır. Weinstein Gürültü Hassasiyeti Ölçeği, demografik bilgi formu ve gürültü rahatsızlığı verileri analiz edilmiştir. Madenciler arasında gürültü rahatsızlığı ve gürültü hassasiyeti şikayetlerinin düzeyi kontrol grubuna göre daha yüksek olmasına rağmen, aradaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Madencilik sektörü ve diğer çalışma alanları da dahil olmak üzere, gürültü tehlikeleri ve risklerine karşı iş sağlığı ve güvenliği çerçevesinde önlemler alınmalıdır.

Keywords

• Gürültü hassasiyeti
• Gürültüden rahatsız olma
• Yeraltı madenciliği
• Mesleki gürültü maruziyeti
• İş sağlığı ve güvenliği
• Weinstein gürültü hassasiyet ölçeği

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